We report the use of zein conduits to repair injured rat sciatic nerves with a 10-mm defect. Three-dimensional zein conduits were designed with/without pores, and with/without microtubes including in the lumen of conduits. Zein conduit with microtubes yielded satisfactory results in sciatic function index (SFI), proximal compound muscle action potentials, density of myelinated nerve fibers and myelin thickness, which were not inferior to autograft but slightly superior to the hollow conduit at the 4th month post-implantation. The conduits degraded almost completely within two months, which was shorter than the suggested period of four months. Thus, the use of a porous conduit with microtubes inside as the guidance may play important roles in successful repair.

Prof. Jin-Ye Wang, received Ph.D. from Tohoku University, Japan (1992), professor of Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2000-2009), professor of Biomedical Engineering and team leader of Biomaterials Lab, Shanghai Jiaotong University (2009-present). Published over 80 SCI papers, including Biomaterials, J. Control Release, Acta Biomateria; 4 books (chapters); authorized 14 Chinese patents and one US patent; invited speaker of European Conference on Biomaterials, Pacifichem et al. Research interests include Tissue Engineering, Controlled Release and Fluorescent Probe, Biomimetic Materials and Biointerfaces.